PM to “cut through dither” with economic growth plan

David Cameron has vowed to “cut through the dither” that is holding Britain back with a new economic growth plan.

Cameron will show fighting spirit as he prepares economic growth plan. Photo: number10.gov.uk

As MPs return to Westminster tomorrow following the summer break, Cameron has promised a series of initiatives to help get the country on its feet again and bring some life into the economy. His new growth plan will come after receiving harsh criticism over the recess, with one discontented senior backbencher suggesting he was a political “mouse.”

As a response in The Daily Mail, Cameron made clear he was ready to face his critics, bringing to light all controversial measures to boost growth by relaxing the planning rules. Cameron also used his article to brush aside all complaints by teachers over the fall in the latest GCSE results, promising further measures to reverse the “dumbing down” in classrooms. He said he would not “cave in to the teaching unions who just wanted to pretend standards are rising each year.”

Cameron also faces criticism from within his own ranks, with backbencher Brian Binley publicly calling on him to axe George Osborne as Chancellor in the approaching Cabinet reshuffle. Also writing in The Mail on Sunday, Binley said Osborne should be made Conservative Party chairman with Defence Secretary Philip Hammond replacing him.

“It is now clear that the Chancellor will not fulfil his election promise of eliminating the deficit by 2015. His much-trumpeted public spending cutbacks are illusory,” he wrote.

He added, “The state remains as bloated, overbearing and inefficient as ever. Public debt is ballooning. Now is the time for the Prime Minister to get a grip.”

In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Cameron’s former rival for party leadership, David Davis, suggested the government draw up an alternative pro-growth strategy to help the economy.

Cameron defended the economic strategy, saying “We’ve cut the deficit by a quarter already, and we are sticking to this course: rejecting the easy path; restoring sanity to our finances; keeping Britain safe.”

He added, “At every turn we are taking the hard road over the easy path and we are doing so because we have a clear destination in mind: a truly great Britain; equal to the challenges of the 21st century; a country we are proud to call home not just for this golden month of the Olympics and Paralympics but in every month, all the time.”

“I’m confident we’re making progress. And I’m more ready than ever for the challenge ahead.”